Body Politics II: Sexuality and Violence Policy

Abstract

In the first section, the analysis defines the general feminist aims and parameters of the second type of Body Politics Policy: Sexuality and Violence Policy. It then discusses the range and timing of policies found in the 13 countries and closes with a discussion of the criteria for selecting the four policy cases covered in the chapter. Sexuality and violence policies aim to help women in situations of domestic violence and in their sexual activities, unwanted or wanted. In the second section, the results of the analysis of the policy case literature on the dynamics of feminist policy formation is presented for the following four cases: The 1992 Zero Tolerance Campaign in Edinburgh; Public Funding of Women's Shelters in Sweden, 1978–95; Spanish Sexual Harassment Reform in 1989; and French Sexual Harassment Reform in 1922. The analysis concludes that the most important factors in determining feminist policy success in this particular sub‐sector of feminist policy may be cultural attitudes about sexual relations, local political dynamics, and the type of legal system.